* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  
*                                                                   *  
*                          INFORMATION ALERT                        *  
*                                                                   *  
*  Produced by:  Ontario Ministry of Labour                         *  
*  Provided by:  Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety *  
*                                                                   *  
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  
  
  
INFO ALERT:  13  
  
DATE:  March 4, 1991  
  
  
*** HAZARD SUMMARY:  ***  FATALITY - WOOD WASTE PILES  
  
  Spontaneous combustion caused a fire inside a pile of bark and  
  sawdust.  This fire created a crust over a cavity where the burning was  
  taking place.  A worker climbed the pile to investigate a plume of  
  smoke and was killed when she fell through the crust into the burning  
  cavity.  
  
  
*** LOCATION(S) AND SECTOR(S) WHERE HAZARD MAY BE ENCOUNTERED ***  
  
  Wood waste piles, saw mill and paper-mill sites, wafer board and  
  plywood mills.  
  
  
*** SUGGESTED PRECAUTIONS AND APPLICABLE SECTION OF THE ACT ***  
  
  Fatalities and injuries may be avoided if the following safeguards  
  are noted:  
  
        1)  Advise all workers exposed to this hazard regarding  
            appropriate precautions.  
        2)  Limit size of piles, to assist heat dissipation.  
        3)  Fence the area and post signs warning of this hazard.  
        4)  Locate piles away from buildings and, if possible, near  
            sources of water to assist fire suppression.  Separate  
            piles (at least 30 feet of clearance at the base of the  
            pile) to assist in fire control efforts.  
  
  Clauses 14(2)(a), (c) and (g) of the OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY  
  ACT state:  
  
        "... an employer shall,  
  
        (a)  provide information, instruction and supervision to a  
             worker to protect the health or safety of the worker;  
        (b)  acquaint a worker or a person in authority over a worker  
             with any hazard in the work and in the handling, storage,  
             use, disposal and transport of any article, device  
             equipment or a biological, chemical or physical agent.  
        (g)  take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for  
             the protections of a worker."  
  
  
            * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  
  
  
NOTE:  "Information Alert" is produced by the Industrial Health and  
       Safety Branch, Ministry of Labour.  The goal of this publication  
       is to communicate hazard information as soon as it becomes  
       available to prevent serious injury to workers.  Reproduction  
       and use of these alerts is encouraged.